States and the Secretary of the Treasury, the Federal Trade Commission is making an intensive, scientific study of these conditions. Investigators are now in South America gathering information of this kind, not only for the benefit of the United States, but for the benefit and advantage of all the countries involved. A report upon these conditions we hope will be ready and available for the meeting of the International Joint High Commission which will be held in Buenos Aires in April, next, and which will address itself to these matters. It The possibilities of dumping, by foreign manufacturers, of their product subsequent to the war, to the detriment and disadvantage of American industry, has also been an object of investigation and study in conjunction with the Secretary of Commerce. The Federal Trade Commission, with the Secretary of Commerce, will be prepared to make recommendation to Congress as to the methods by which any such anticipated situation may be best prevented. Such is the general outline of the purposes and nine months' work of the Federal Trade Commission. Within the limitation of its powers, it is bent and animated by a desire to aid in every possible way that is consistent with democratic institutions in the development of the powers and greatness of this country as an industrial, commercial and financial nation of the world. Its effort has been to be constructive rather than destructive, helpful rather than hurtful. It has aided, and it purposes to aid in the future, in every way within its powers in the healthy advancement of American industry, having in mind at all times that spirit of democracy which demands a fair opportunity for all, not only in political rights," but in the exercise of industrial and commercial vocations. The Commission recognizes the tremendous and constant progress in modern industry. The economies of large scale production, to the extent that they exist, the advantage of integration in industry, the sustaining force of stabilization in industry, the prevention of cut-throat competition, can all be encompassed in a democratic state without yielding to monopoly in principle or in effect. The problem of democracy is to foster and encourage every healthful and natural development of our in-. dustrial life and to conserve the efficiencies of industry to the highest degree that is compatible with the fundamental conception of liberty and freedom in industry. The work of the Commission, in the prevention of unfair competition, in its uniform cost accounting work, in its foreign trade and other investigations, repreent its initial efforts as directed toward this difficult and fundamental task. Its past work should be an earnest of its future endeavor in aid of American industry and in the preservation to posterity of the real essence of that liberty and freedom of opportunity which is characteristic of American institutions and government. Bankers' Convention Calendar LOUISIANA-Alexandria, April 14-15. EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, A. B. A.-Briarcliff, May 8-10. RESERVE CITY BANKERS-Detroit, May 11-12. PENNSYLVANIA-Philadelphia, May 18-19. RHODE ISLAND-Swampscott, Mass., June 17. Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Co. The March 7th statement of the Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Company shows aggregate resources of $19,340,087, deposits of $15,245,820, capital $1,000,000, surplus $2,000,000 and undivided profits of $1,092,266. As executor and trustee under wills and trust agreements, the Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Company holds in its trust department over $28,000,000. ATTRACTIONS OF KANSAS CITY WHERE THE NEXT A. B. A. CONVENTION WILL BE HELD TRULY TYPICAL OF AMERICAN VIM AND OPTIMISM F. M. STAKER Manager Publicity Dept. Commerce Trust Company of Kansas City, Mo. "Good and bad times may come and go, but I go on forever." That is the paraphrase which might most aptly be inscribed upon the official seal or escutcheon of Kansas City. Except for the newspaper headlines the visitor would find very little in prevailing business to indicate that half the world is topsy-turvy and engaged in deadly combat. Indeed, he will receive the firm impression that in this city the keynote of daily life and action is "America first and last." There is no dread as to "countermovements" or business reaction when the war in Europe ceases because the marvellous growth of Kansas City has nothing sporadic or transient about it. It is the logical and natural result of a quickened community spirit, a true appraisement of opportunities and a determination to "hustle" in and out of season. Bankers who have not visited Kansas City within the last ten or fifteen years will find much to marvel at in the way of improvements and new attractions. From a purely financial or commercial standpoint there is a good index in comparing the record of clearings which amounted in 1900 to $775,264,813 and by big leaps has grown to $3,835,961,547 for 1915. A the year single day's clearings, namely, as of December. 27, 1915, amounting to $20,348,298 falls but little short of the entire year of 1875 when the first Clearing House record was compiled. Of direct interest to delegates attending the next annual convention of the American Bankers' Association during the week commencing September 25th, will be the splendid types of banking and trust company institutions of which this city can well afford to be proud. They have been most important factors in broadening and strengthening the financial and trade influence of this city. These claims were recognized when the Federal Reserve Organization Committee waived geographical considerations in creating Reserve bank centers in St. Louis and Kansas City. It was recognized that this city has become the natural confluence of trade, agri clearings for the ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL STREETS OF KANSAS CITY, Mo. cultural and banking interests embracing a wide and rapidly developing area. American bankers will find a truly "City Beautiful," where an ambitious dream of civic, architectural and scenic improvements, conceived twenty years ago, has been matured into reality. The elaboration of this plan has proceeded hand in hand with the development of railroad and other facilities to which is due the fact that Kansas City is today the distributing center of perhaps the richest and most rapidly growing agricultural and mineral section of the United States. For those who have a relish for SUNKEN GARDENS IN SWOPE PARK, KANSAS CITY statistics some Delegates will also have ample opportunity to see that Kansas City has also a truly ésthetic and artistic side. Architectural qualities have not been lost sight of in the erection of handsome, imposing business structures to which the modern bank and trust company homes contribute in no small measure. Another striking feature is the development of the residential sections. What is perhaps more to the point is that most of the fine homes are owned by those who dwell in them. It was in 1892 when August R. Meyer, then president of the Park Board, planned an elaborate system of municipal improvements and beauty spots. For 20 years, the development of these plans was pursued with admirable persistency. The scheme was so arranged that the parks and boulevards are distributed over the entire city. Small parks and squares of from one to ten acres are dotted about the crowded portions. Nearly all of them have wading pools for children and in many cases gymnastic apparatus has been installed. Public tennis courts are common and in several places athletic fields. Farther out to the suburban districts the parks are more spacious, reaching the climax at Swope Park, the gift of Colonel Thomas H. Swope, which contains 1,380 acres. Within this park are six miles of drives, 250 acres of beautifully kept lawn, four miles of the Blue river, the "Lake of the Woods" and a lagoon HOME OF THE COMMERCE TRUST COMPANY OF KANSAS CITY, MO. covering together 35 acres. James Bryce said of Swope Park, "I have never seen a city park in this country to equal it and certainly it is unrivaled among the cities of the Old World, so far as my travels have extended. Its strongest appeal to me is its magnificent reaches of wild grass and cool forest." In all the city has 19 parks comprising a total area of 2,600 acres with 60 miles of continuous boulevards and drives. These magnificent thoroughfares are maintained in excellent conditions for pleasure drives between miles upon miles of beautiful homes. Cliff Drive is a splendid four mile trip through scenery unequaled by any municipal driveway in the world. Another unusual boulevard is The Paseo, which runs the entire north and south distance of the city. Dotted with fountains and terraces, widening here and there into a square or park, it furnishes many restful breathing places. A TYPICAL RESIDENCE STREET OF KANSAS CITY. Extensive preparations for the entertainment and comfort of the thousands of bankers who will meet here next September are being carried out under the general direction of the members of the local Clearing House Committee. The work has been apportioned to various sub-committees. When General Secretary Fred E. Farnsworth of the American Bankers' Association recently visited here he received the impression that neither effort nor means will be spared to make the forthcoming convention a great success. Aside from the customary entertainment and social features, GENERAL INTERIOR VIEW OF THE PIONEER TRUST COMPANY OF KANSAS CITY including the reception and ball at the Auditorium, concerts, automobile trips to leading points of interest, the delegates will be greeted with the spirt of "open house" everywhere. There is every indication that the attendance will exceed all previous records because of accessibility and excellent train accommodation to bankers from all sections of the country. The preliminary arrangements also indicate that the business sessions will be of more than usual importance. Monday, September 25th will be devoted to committee and Executive Council meetings with a "get-together smoker" in the evening. The second day is reserved for the meetings of the Trust Company, Savings Bank and other Section meetings. The morning of the third day will also be given over to the Sections. On Thursday and Friday the general convention sessions will be held. The general supervision and management of the convention will be in the hands of the Executive Committee of the Clearing House Association, which is composed of George S. Hovey, president; E. F. Swinney, J. W. Perry, P. W. Goebel and W. T. Kemper. Ample hotel accommodation will be provided by the hotel committee, of which R. C. Menefee, vice-president of the Commerce Trust Company, is chair man. THE CONCOURSE, KANSAS CITY mal progress in general business conditions. He says: "The condition of prosperity in this country today is one of true progress because its basis is fundamentally sound. It had its inception in external affairs, its growth and development in thriving domestic affairs. Bank clearings are breaking all previous records, exports are reaching new high marks as one month follows an other, crops were most bountiful, bond sales are the heaviest in years, and the hammer of the builder is ringing more merrily than for some time past. There have been consistent gains in building permits for months. Property owners, who have been waiting through several long, lean years for the return of normal conditions, are now encouraged to proceed with their building operations. This is true, not only of the individual owner ready to engage in the erection of a country home or city residence, but it applies as well to banks, financial and all other extensive business organizations. "The return of prosperity means much in the way of the enhancement of the architectural beauty of our cities through the erection of these new structures. There is no good reason why the present period of progress and prosperity THE PASEO, ONE OF THE CHARMING Drives of KANSAS CITY should be but a flurry; it should be Building Operations Reflect Real Progress Mr. W. J. Hoggson, president of Hoggson Brothers, contracting designers, points to a revival in building operations as evidence of nor lasting. And it may be made so through substituting helpfulness for aggressive opposi tion, co-operation for competition. In the field of building, particularly, should competition and and the evils attendant upon it be eliminated." |